Blood diamond – a character analysis

1. Blood Diamond – A character Analysis Section C Group 5

2. Introduction Focuses on the Illegal Diamond Trade in Sierra Leone Used to sponsor the civil war Quest for pink diamond Analysis of key characters and how their individual choices and decisions are influenced by external factors

3. Factors affecting the characters and the system External Factors War in Sierra Leone UN Presence Diamond Trade Influencing Factors Struggle for Independence International policies Consumer Demand, Arms Supply Results Fractured Society UN Sanctions Prolonged Conflict, Natural Resource exploitation

4. Character Analysis Danny Archer Mercenary, very smart, improvises when needed Good negotiator, tries to get the best deal, risk taking Seems OK with double –crossing people Has High MACH Lost both his parents in tragic circumstances, no family now Despite being a soldier, has no faith in the ongoing war, killing etc. Experiences some kind of emotional dissonance. Unhealthy motivation Undergoes Ethical transformation

5. Solomon Vandy Poor Mende fisherman; finds the diamond Very protective of his family, wants the future to be better. Wants Dia, his son to become a doctor Compassionate , courageous, has integrity Can be naïve and childlike in simplicity yet astute enough to suspect Archer Great amount of self respect Major Driving Factor: Love for family: goes to great extremes to find them Very strong emotions and sense of duty

6. Maddy Bowen Profession: Journalist Upbringing: Daughter of a war veteran Personality traits: wants to make a difference street smart wants to unearth the illegal diamond trade knows how to get the truth out of people ‘Action Junkie’ Emotional

7. Maddy’s Motivation ( Vroom’s Expectancy Theory) If she goes to Sierra Leone, she will be able to get substantial evidence on blood diamond If her report is published, she will be able to unearth the illegal trade Her personal goal to bring a change in the world would be satisfied

8. Dia Vandy Son of Solomon Vandy Bright student, attached to family parents wanted him to become a Doctor In the identity vs Role confusion stage; Taken away from family by the RUF ; loses his identity/innocence and became ruthless ; confused RUF through coercive persuaion makes him a killer Becomes “Captain Dia ”, “see me no more” Gets into drugs/alcohol Refuses to reconcile with Solomon, calls him a traitor Seems confused as to what he is, a terrorist or an innocent boy, pulls a gun on his own father Rediscovers himself after his father’s emotional persuasion

9. Benjamin A resident of Sierra Leone Humanitarian and believes that “people are inherently good” He sees RUF child soldiers as innocent children, psychologically conditioned to kill people Runs rehabilitation camp to bring them back to mainstream life Risks his life by being so trustful, gets shot in the end but remains empathetic to child soldiers Greatly influences Danny in his reformation

10. BIG FIVE analysis Archer Maddy Solomon Benjamin Extraversion Agreeableness Conscientiousness Emotional Stability Openness to Experience NA NA

11. RUF (“Shed their blood!!”) Social Climate Big Impact of RUF on people. Motto (so called) Work against the government and for people. Methodology Gain power, control the diamond trade. Psychologically condition children. Probable reasons for directionless efforts Lack of leadership with a wider vision, absence of a role model. Deficiency of ethical or moral values. Shortsightedness.

12. RUF Operations: “Very Smart!!”

13. Conclusion Talks about ethical issues, motivation(healthy and unhealthy), selfish actions leading to chaos, atmosphere created by lack of morals and values, the courage of ethical people etc Labor(forced) Smugglers Officials(Corrupted) Illegal Diamond trading Companies Almost every one in the movie wanted the Diamond for some reason Human price paid for diamonds Valuable diamonds or lives of families ?